ElectriCities Spotlights Strength of Community-Owned Utilities During Public Power Week

RALEIGH, N.C. (September 29, 2025) — ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., joins its member communities and public power utilities nationwide in recognizing Public Power Week—Oct. 5-11, 2025—an annual opportunity to shine a light on the municipally owned electric systems that power the homes and businesses in more than 2,000 communities across the country.

Recognized during the first full week of October every year, Public Power Week celebrates the unique benefits public power utilities provide to their customers and communities—advantages like unbeaten reliability, local control, and a focus on people, not profit.

“Because public power utilities are not-for-profit and community-focused, they provide tremendous value to their customers by keeping resources in the community to support local needs,” said Roy Jones, CEO of ElectriCities, the membership organization that provides services and support to over 90 community-owned electric systems in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—collectively known as public power.

“These strengths, combined with unbeaten reliability, are some of the many benefits public power delivers to communities,” Jones said.

Public power providers—electric utilities—are a division of local government. Like public schools and libraries, they are owned by the community and run by boards of local officials who are accountable to their citizens.

“Local control is one of the hallmarks of public power that sets it apart from other utilities and enables public power utilities to quickly respond to community needs,” said Jones. “Public power lineworkers, customer service representatives, engineers, and other specialists often live in the communities they serve, and they take pride in keeping the lights on for their neighbors.”

In North Carolina, public power illuminates the homes and workplaces of nearly 1.6 million people, providing safe, affordable, and sustainable electricity with a reliability rating of 99.99%—more reliable than other power providers in the state. When the power does go out, public power lineworkers restore power 50% faster than other energy providers.

Public power communities are part of a mutual aid network that spans the state, region, and country, providing invaluable support during hurricanes, ice storms, and other natural disasters while maintaining superior reliability and safety records.

“As we mark Public Power Week, we acknowledge that delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable power is a constant, vital responsibility,” Jones said. “This week, and throughout the year, we celebrate these benefits that provide a better quality of life for everyone in our public power communities.”